Mrs. Murray (for
herself, Mrs. Clinton, and
Mr. Bond) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions

A BILL

To set the United States on track to ensure children are
ready to learn when they begin kindergarten.

1.

Short
title

This Act may be cited as
the Ready to Learn
Act.

2.

Early childhood
development

The
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
6301 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

X

Supporting
voluntary prekindergarten

10001.

Supporting
voluntary prekindergarten grants

(a)

Program
authorized

From amounts
available under section 10003, the Secretary is authorized to award grants, on
a competitive basis, to eligible States to pay the Federal share of
establishing and administering full day voluntary prekindergarten programs for
children age 4 in the State, in order to promote school readiness for such
children.

(b)

Application

(1)

In
general

If a State desires a grant under this title, the Governor
of such State shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in
such manner, and containing a plan that outlines how and when such State
expects to provide voluntary prekindergarten for every 4-year old in the
State.

(2)

Subgrants to
eligible entities

(A)

In
general

Except as provided in subsection (c)(2), a State that
receives a grant under this title shall use the grant funds to award subgrants
to eligible entities to carry out the requirements of this title.

(B)

Subgrants for
community-based providers

In awarding subgrants under
subparagraph (A), a State shall use not less than 25 percent of the grant funds
provided to the State to award subgrants to eligible entities that are
community-based providers of prekindergarten programs.

(C)

Eligible
entities

In this paragraph, the term eligible entity
includes schools, child care entities, Head Start programs, or other
community-based providers of prekindergarten programs.

(c)

Use of
funds

A State that receives a grant under this title shall
use—

(1)

not less than 85
percent of the funds provided under such grant to carry out the activities
described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (d); and

(2)

not more than 15
percent of such funds at the State level for quality investment described in
subsection (d)(3).

(d)

Use of
funds

(1)

In
general

A State that receives a grant under this title shall use
grant funds to provide a high-quality prekindergarten program that—

(A)

serves children
age 4 in the State, serving first children from low-income families with
incomes that are not more than 200 percent of the poverty line and those who
are limited English proficient;

(B)

not later than 2
years after the receipt of the grant, ensures that each classroom is taught by
a teacher who has—

(i)

a
baccalaureate degree or advanced degree in early childhood education; or

(ii)

a baccalaureate
degree and specialized training in early childhood development;

(C)

utilizes a
developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate curriculum that is
aligned with the State early learning standards and valid and reliable,
multiple assessments for the purpose of improving instruction; and

(D)

has a
teacher-child ratio of not more than 1 to 10 and a group size of not more than
20.

(2)

Allowable uses
of funds

After a State has
fulfilled the requirements described in paragraph (1), such State may use grant
funds—

(A)

to serve younger
children;

(B)

to increase
salaries;

(C)

for additional
comprehensive services as may be needed; and

(D)

for the
construction of new facilities, or the renovation, repair, or alteration of
existing facilities, necessary to commence or continue such
prekindergarten.

(3)

Quality
investment

A State that receives a grant under this title shall
use grant funds—

(A)

to carry out
other activities needed to ensure the health and safety of children served
under this title;

(B)

for professional
development for teachers and staff of the prekindergarten program described in
paragraph (1); and

(C)

to provide
comprehensive services.

10002.

Administration

(a)

Federal share;
non-Federal share

(1)

Federal
share

The Federal share of a grant under this title shall be 50
percent of the costs of carrying out the activities described in section
10001(d).

(2)

Non-Federal
share

The non-Federal share of a grant under this title shall be
provided in cash.

(b)

Maintenance of
effort

The Secretary may not award a grant under this title to
any State unless the Secretary first determines that the per-child expenditure
by the State and its political subdivisions for prekindergarten programs (other
than funds used to pay the non-Federal share under this section) for the fiscal
year for which the determination is made is equal to or greater than such
expenditure for the preceding fiscal year.

(c)

Supplement not
supplant

Grant funds received under this title shall be used to
supplement and not supplant other Federal, State, and local public funds
expended to promote voluntary prekindergarten programs in the State.

(d)

Provision of
grant funds

In awarding a grant under this title to a State, the
Secretary shall provide the grant funds to the Governor of the State, to enable
the Governor to designate a lead agency to best direct the funds in a manner
that improves the State's programs by carrying out the requirements of this
title.

(e)

Coordination

In
carrying out this title, the Secretary shall coordinate, not less often than
quarterly, with the Secretary of Health and Human Services regarding the review
of State plans as described in section 10001(b) and the implementation of the
prekindergarten programs under this title.

(f)

Reporting
Requirements

(1)

State
Reports

Each State that receives a grant under this title shall
submit to the Secretary an annual report detailing the effectiveness of each
prekindergarten program in that State funded under this title.

(2)

Report to
Congress

The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and
Labor of the House of Representatives an annual report that describes each
State program of assistance for prekindergarten programs funded under this
title.

(3)

Contents of
Reports

A report submitted under paragraph (1) or (2) shall
include—

(A)

a description of
each action taken to move toward providing a high-quality prekindergarten
education to all 4-year olds;

(B)

a summary of each
measure that will be taken to achieve the goal of providing full day
high-quality prekindergarten to all 4-year olds, including a timetable
according to which such measures will be implemented;

(C)

a description of
all efforts to improve the integration of full day high-quality prekindergarten
programs with the kindergarten through grade 12 education system; and

(D)

a description of
all efforts to educate parents about best practices for the role of parents in
the early education of a child.

10003.

Authorization
of appropriations

There are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title such sums as may be
necessary for each of the fiscal years 2010 through
2015.